Pilot control for gas heated laundry dryer



R. D. RULSEH 2,797,909

PILOT CONTROL FOR GAS HEATED LAUNDRY DRYER July 2, 1957 w k mmz m 252 NW w NW hm m mN M SE at Q m tm ma NN QM i v mu Q25 m g Nb oooi r x m NM mm uh m 0 MN 53R 2E2 wk mmzman WQBE QM Q u Rh M A Lam/Q. QR J m. n 5m m N %w 2925 moon m .85 \fihkwh kuxvsh koiqxkwkww i kwkwot umk k Eh o kmmk Fiat .223 63 kmhmt United States Patent it PILOT CONTROL FUR GA HEATED LAUNDRY DRYER Roger D. Rulseh, Manitowoc, Wis, assignor to Hamilton Manufacturing Company, Two Rivers, Win, a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 30, 1954, Serial No. 452,7423

16 Claims. (Cl. 263-63) The invention relates generally to laundry dryers and more particularly to the control of a pilot burner for a gas heated dryer.

The general object of the invention is to provide a laundry dryer of the gas heated type, having a pilot burner for igniting the main burner, with a novel means for controlling the pilot burner.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel control for the pilot burner of the foregoing type of dryer, whereby a minimum of gas is consumed when the dryer is idle but which provides for a sufficient pilot flame for igniting the main burner of the dryer when the latter is placed in operation and for preventing the pilot flame from being extinguished by adverse draft conditions in the dryer whether during operation or when it is idle.

Another object is to provide a novel pilot burner control for a dryer of the foregoing type, which provides sufiicient flame to cause actuation of the usual safety control for the main burner when the dryer is operating but which operates in such a manner when the dryer is idle that operation of the main burner is prevented.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the control circuits utilized in the dryer and embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of valve means adapted to be utilized in the circuit shown in Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified form of valve means.

A laundry dryer of the gas-heated type, which is adapted for domestic use, usually comprises a cabinet enclosing a rotatable drum in which the laundry is tumbled during drying. The front of the cabinet is provided with a door for insertion of laundry into and withdrawal of laundry from the drum. The dryer is provided with means for circulating heated air through the drum to remove the moisture from the laundry, and such cir culation is effected by air circulating means comprising a fan or blower usually adapted to be driven by the same motor that rotates the drum. The air supplied to the drum is heated by a main burner which is ignited by a pilot burner.

Operation of the dryer is controlled usually by a timer which shuts off operation of the dryer after a predetermined period of operation. To insure safe operation, the control means for the dryer may include a dooroperated device which, when the door is opened shuts oif the drive motor and stops the timer, as well as stopping the flow of gas to the main burner. A floodlight within the dryer may also be provided, which operates when the dryer is operating or, if the dryer is idle, whenever the door is opened.

A dryer of this type usually includes a safety device Patented July 2, 1957 which prevents opertion of the main burner unless the pilot burner is operating. This type of dryer also usually includes a thermostat which stops the supply of gas to the main burner when a predetermined temperature has been reached within the drum and which operates to cause reignition of the main burner when the temperature falls below a predetermined lower limit. The timer may also be arranged to shut off the main burner shortly before the end of the drying cycle and continue operation of the drive motor so that the laundry continues to be tumbled in the drum until it cools otf sufliciently for convenient handling.

In dryers of this type, there have been heretofore two general types of control of the pilot burner. In one form,

the pilot burner operates continuously so that, whenever it is desired to use the dryer, the flame of the pilot burner will be available to ignite the main burner. In another form, to avoid the use of a constantly burning pilot flame, an electrically operated glow plug is provided which, when the dryer is first started, ignites the pilot burner, and the latter in turn ignites the main burner. When the drying cycle has been completed, both burners are shut off.

In the latter form of dryer, the use of a glow plug involves additional electrical circuits and controls therefor so that the glow plug will operate only at the desired time. In the first-mentioned form which utilizes a constantly burning pilot flame, a different difliculty is encountered. With such a construction, a very low flame can easily be extinguished by the action of the main burner when it is first opened or by adverse draft conditions. Such adverse draft conditions may occur in connection with the circulation of air through the drum or by virtue of opening and closing of the door. A larger pilot flamevwould overcome these difliculties but too much gas would be consumed by a flame of suflicient size, if it were operated continuously.

' The present invention provides a control which operates the pilot burner at a relatively low rate continuously when the dryer is idle and the door is closed. Thus there is no excess consumption of gas because of the pilot burner. However, when it is desired to operate the dryer, the supply of gas to the pilot burner is automatically increased to a higher rate and such higher rate is maintained throughout the period of operation of the dryer. When the pilot burner is operating at its lower rate, the flame is insuflicient to cause operation of the safety control for the main burner so that the latter will never be turned on when the pilot burner is operating at a lower rate. When the pilot burner is operating at a higher rate, the safety device is then actuated by the flame of the pilot burner to permit opening of the main burner. Moreover, when the thermostat acts to turn the main burner on or oil during the cycle of operation of the dryer, the pilot burner is maintained at its higher rate so that the main burner will always be properly ignited. The pilot burner always operates at its higher rate so long as the drive motor is operating the air circulating means so that the pilot flame cannot be extinguished by the air currents created by the air circulating means. When the dryer is idle but the door to the drying chamber is opened, the supply of gas to the pilot burner will be immediately increased to cause the latter to operate at its higher rate so that any drafts created thereby or at the time of closing of the door, as by slamming, the higher rate of operation of the pilot burner will avoid any chance of extinguishment of the flame.

In the particular embodiment illustrated diagrammatically in the drawing, the pilot burner is shown at 10 and the main burner at 11. Gas from a supply line is brought in by means of a pipe 12 to a valve means indicated generally at 13. In this valve means 13, the gas flows from the pipe 12 into an inlet chamber 14, then through an opening controlled by a valve 15 to an intermediate chamber 16 Fromthe latter, gas flows through an opening controlled by a valve 17 through a line 20 to the main burner 11.

As in the usual type of drum, a drive motor 21 is provided for causing rotation of the tumbling drum and for operating an air circulating means (not shown). A flood lamp 22 may be provided to illuminate the interior of the drying drum while it is operating or whenever the door of the dryer is opened so that the operator can readily see the contents of the drum.

Control of operation of the dryer is preferably effected by electrical control means automatically operated by a timer indicated generally at 23. The timer may be operated by any suitable drive means but in this instance is shown as being operated by an electric motor 24. The current for operating the control as well as the dryer motor 21, the floodlamp 22, and the timer motor 24, may be taken from any suitable source such as a lighting circuit by a pair of line wires 25 and 26. As a safety provision, a high limit thermostat 27 may be placed in one of these lines and set to open at a somewhat higher temperature than the thermostat controlling the temperature within the drying drum. Since the high limit thermostat is in one of the lines 25 or 26, it will completely shut down the dryer should it open. This high limit thermostat is preferably of the type which has to be manually reset after it has once opened.

The timer 23 is of the type which is provided with cam means for closing various circuits. In the present instance it is shown as having three spring contacts respectively indicated at 30, 31 and 32, and is arranged to successively close the contacts, that is, by first causing engagement of the contact 30 with the contact 31 and thereafter causing engagement of the contact 31 with the contact 32 so that all three will thus be electrically connected. The three contacts 39, 31 and 32 are respectively provided with terminals 33, 34 and 35.

To operate the drive motor 21, the supply line 25 is connected to terminal 34 for the contact 31. The terminal 33 for the contact 30 is connected by a jumper 36 to a terminal 37 which may for convenience be placed on the timer 23. The terminal 37 is connected by a wire 40 to one terminal 41 of the motor 21. The other terminal 42 of the motor is connected by a wire 43 to a terminal block 44 which may be conveniently mounted on the timer 23. The terminal block 44 in this instance carries four terminals which are interconnected with each other. Also connected to one of the terminals on the terminal block 44 is a wire 45 leading to a motor fuse 46. The latter is connected by a wire 47 to a terminal 50 of a door operated switch 51.

The door operated switch 51 has a contact member 52 movable in response to opening and closing of the door of the dryer. When the door is closed, the contact member 52 of the door switch connects the terminal 50 with a second terminal 53. The latter is connected by a wire 54 to a terminal 57 which is also connected to the line 26. Thus a circuit for the drive motor 21 is provided which includes the contacts 30 and 31 of the timer. When the timer is set for operation, the cam means thereon causes engagement of the contacts 30 and 31 to close the circuit for the drive motor 21 and thus cause operation of the latter. The timer is so arranged that at the conclusion of the drying cycle, the contacts 31) and 31 are allowed to spring apart so as to break the circuit and stop the drive motor 21. It will also be noted that when the door is opened, the contact 52 of the door switch will move out of engagement with the terminals 50 and 53 to break the circuit to the drive motor 21 so that the latter will be stopped Whenever the door is opened during the cycle of operation of the dryer.

. The timer motor 24 is adapted to be driven by a shunt circuit connected to the circuit for the drive motor 21. Thus one side of the timer motor is connected by a wire 55 to the terminal 37, and the other side of the timer motor is connected by a wire 56 to a terminal on the terminal block 44. The timer motor is thus controlled by engagement of the contacts 30 and 31 and by the door switch. To start the timer in operation, it may be turned manually to cause its cam means to engage the contacts 30 and 31 and thus close the circuit for the timer motor, assuming of course that the dryer door is closed. When the timer has completed its cycle, the cam means causes disengagement of the contacts 30 and 31 to stop operation of the timer motor 24 in the same manner as the drive motor 21. Also opening of the door of the dryer will break the connection between the terminals 50 and 53 of the door switch to stop the timer motor. With this arrangement should the door he opened during the drying cycle, the time lost during such opening will not be subtracted from the time of operation for which the timer motor is set, since the latter is stopped whenever the door is opened. The valve 15 is adapted to be opened by means of a solenoid 60 while the valve 17 is adapted to be opened by a solenoid 61. The solenoid 61 is connected by a wire 62 with a safety switch 63 which is adapted to be closed only when the pilot burner is operating with sufiicient flame to ignite the main burner, as hereinafter described. The safety switch 53 is connected by a wire 64 with a thermostat 65 which is the one mounted in the drying drum to control the temperature therein. The thermostat 65 is connected by a wire 66 to the terminal 35 for the contact 32. When the contacts 31 and 32 are engaged by the timer, connection is thereby made to the line 25.

The other side of the solenoid 61 is connected by a wire 67 which in turn is connected to one of the terminals on the terminal block 44. The wire 67 is thus connected through the terminal block 44 with the Wire 45, the motor fuse 46, the wire 47, the terminal 50 of the door switch 51 and through the latter to the terminal 53 thereof which is connected by wire 54 through the terminal 57 to the other line 26. When the safety switch 63 and the thermostat 65 are closed, and the door is closed to connect terminals 50 and 53 of the door switch, the solenoid 61 will be energized when the contact 31 of the timer engages the contact 32. Such engagement occurs shortly after the timer is started by virtue of the cam action and flow of gas to the main burner is thus permitted past the valve 17. Shortly before the termination of the drying cycle, the cam means of the timer permits the contacts 31 and 32 to spring apart while maintaining engagement between the contacts 30 and 31, so that the circuit for the solenoid 61 is deenergized and the valve 17 will thereupon close to shut off the main burner. After the operation of the main burner is thus stopped, the timer continues to hold the contacts 30 and 31 in engagement while the dryer cools down, and then opens these contacts to stop the dryer motor. The laundry will thus be cooled otf sufiiciently so that it may be conveniently handled when removing it from the dryer.

During the cycle of operation of the dryer, the temperature in the drying drum may tend to rise beyond a desired point, in which case the thermostat 65 opens the circuit for the solenoid 61 and thus permits the valve 17 to close to shut off the main burner. The main burner remains shut off until the dryer is cooled sufiiciently to re-establish a circuit through the thermostat 65 at which time the solenoid 61 again opens the valve 17 to permit flow of gas to the main burner.

In order to be sure that there is a proper fiame from the pilot burner to ignite the main burner, the safety switch 63 is provided. This switch is adapted to be closed by heat expansible means in a bulb 70 placed adjacent the pilot burner and subjected to the heat of the flame thereof. When the pilot burner is operating with suflicient flame to properly heat the heat-responsive means in the bulb 70, safety switch 63 is closed. However, if the pilot burner is not operating with a sufficient flame, the safety switch 63 will not be closed and even though the other controls call for opening of the main burner valve 17, such valve will not be opened.

As heretofore mentioned, the pilot burner must operate with sufiicient flame to ignite the main burner, to operate the bulb 7i and cause closure of the safety switch 63, and to withstand adverse draft conditions arising either from the air circulation through the drying chamber or from opening andclosing of the door. However, a flame which is sufficient to accomplish these functions would consume an excessive amount of gas if the pilot burner operated at this rate continuously. To avoid such excessive consumption of gas, but at the same time to provide suflicient flame for the various functions, the pilot burner It} is adapted to be operated at two difierent rates. Thus when the dryer is idle and the door is closed, the pilot burner is adapted to be operated at a relatively low rate provided by a relatively small flame. Such small flame is insuflicient to heat the bulb 70 to the point where the safety switch 63 is closed. However, when operation of the dryer is started, the rate of flow of gas to the pilot burner is increased to the point where there is sufificient flame to properly heat the bulb 70 and close the safety switch 63, to properly ignite the main burner, and to withstand adverse draft conditions resulting either from the circulation of air during the drying cycle or from opening and closing the door when the dryer is idle.

To this end, the valve means for supplying gas to the pilot burner is provided with an orifice for continuously supplying gas to the pilot burner at a lower rate, and when the valve 15 is opened, gas will be supplied to the pilot burner at a higher rate. In Fig. 1 of the drawing, the pilot burner is shown as being connected by a pipe 71 to the intermediate chamber 16 of the valve means 13. The orifice for continuously supplying gas to the pilot burner at a low rate in this instance is shown as a groove 72 formed either in the valve 15 or in its seat so that there is a constant flow of gas from the source 12 through the groove 72 into the intermediate chamber 16 and thence through the pipe 71 to the pilot burner. The orifice 72 is of such cross-sectional size that at the pressures ordinarily provided for a gas supply, just enough gas will flow to permit operation of the pilot burner with a relatively low flame. The amount of gas consumed by such a flame when burning continuously will result in relatively low cost.

To increase the rate at which gas is supplied to the pilot burner, opening of the valve 15 permits free flow into the intermediate chamber and thus through the pipe 71 to the pilot burner. The latter is provided with an orifice 73 which, at normal gas pressure, provides a sufficient flame to function in the manner desired. Thus opening and closing of the valve 15 determine whether the pilot burner will operate at its higher rate or at its lower rate.

Opening and closing of the valve 15 is effected by the solenoid 60 and the latter is energized by a circuit which is coordinated with the control of the other elements of the dryer. Thus one side of the solenoid 60 is connected by a wire 74 to the terminal 57 and is thereafter connected to the line 26. The other side of the solenoid 60 is connected by a wire 75 to a terminal 76 on the door switch, the latter also having a terminal 77. The terminals 76 and 77 are so positioned that, when the door is opened and the contact member 52 is moved away from the terminals 5t? and 53, it engages the terminals 76 and 77 to connect them. Thus these two terminals are connected when the door is opened. The terminal 77 is connected by a wire 80 with the terminal 34 on the timer and this in turn is connected to the line 25. The

Wire 75 is also connected to a wire 81 which in turn is connected to the terminal 33 for the contact 30. When the timer holds the contact 30 in engagement with the contact 31, the wire 81'is thus connected to the line 25.

When the door of the dryer is closed so that connection between the terminals 76 and 77 is broken and the dryer 'is started in operation, the terminals 30 and 31 are engaged by the timer so that the solenoid 60 will be energized through the wire 81. Thus the valve 15 will be opened at the start of the drying operation and will remain open throughout the entire drying cycle to supply gas at the higher rate to the pilot burner. The

.pilot burner will thus have suflicient flame to resist extinguishment either in igniting the main burner or from adverse draft conditions and also will sufliciently heat the bulb 70 to close the switch 63.

When the drying cycle has been completed and the timer shuts off operation of the dryer, separation of the contacts 30 and 31 will 'de-energize the solenoid 60 to permit the valve 15 to close. However, when the dryer is idle, should the dryer door he opened, the contact 52 of the door switch will connect the terminals 76 and 77 to establish a circuit through the solenoid 60 to open the valve 15 and permit the supply of gas to the pilot burner 'at the higher rate. Thus there is no danger of extinguishing the pilot burner when the door of the dryer is open or closed.

In Fig. 1, I have shown the orifice which permits flow of gas to the pilot burner 10 at a low rate as being provided by a groove in the valve 15. As mentioned above, such groove could as well be placed in the valve seat. In Figs. 2 and 3, I have shown other forms of orifices. Thus in Fig. 2, I show an orifice 80 formed in the wall structure of the valve means, which separates the inlet chamber 14 from the'intermediate chamber 16. The orifice 80 of course is of a size which permits flow of gas at a low rate under ordinary pressures. In Fig. 3, I have shown the orifice as being provided by a short pipe 81 extending from the inlet chamber 14 externally of the valve means of the pipe 71.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided a novel means for controlling the pilot burner of a gas-operated laundry dryer. By operating the pilot burner at a low rate of flow of gas when the dryer is idle, a minimum of gas is thereby consumed. However, when it becomes necessary for the pilot flame to ignite the main burner on placing the dryer in operation or during the course of operation, the flow of gas is increased to provide a sufficient flame so that it will not be extinguished. Moreover, during operation, the higher rate of flow of gas to the pilot burner provides suflicient flame to cause the bulb 70 to close the safety switch 63 so that the main burner may operate. The invention herein disclosed also provides for operation of the pilot burner at its higher rate whenever the door of the dryer is opened so that adverse draft conditions that might be caused by opening and closing of the door cannot extinguish the pilot flame.

I claim:

l. Agas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner, valve means having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pilot burner at a low rate, valve operating means for opening said valve means for supplying gas to said pilot burner at a higher rate, control means for operating said dryer and for actuating said valve operating means to open said valve means when the dryer is operating, and other means for actuating said valve operating means to open said valve means when said control means has shut off operation of the dryer.

2. A gas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner, valve means having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pilot burner at a low rate, valve operating means for opening said valve means for supplying gas to said pilot burner at a higher rate, control means for operating said dryer and for actuating said valve operating means to open said valve means when the dryer is operating, a door for the dryer, and means responsive to opening of the door for actuating said valve operating means to open said valve means when said control means has shut off operation of the dryer.

3. A gas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner, valve means having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pilot burner at a low rate, a solenoid for opening said valve means for supplying gas to said pilot burner at a higher rate, electrical control means for operating said dryer and including a circuit for energizing said solenoid to open said valve means when the dryer is operating, a door for the dryer, and a door operated switch in said circuit and adapted to be closed upon opening the door to energize said solenoid for opening said valve means when said control means has shut off operation of the dryer.

4. A gas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner, valve means having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pilot burner at a low rate, a solenoid for opening said valve means for supplying gas to said pilot burner at a higher rate, electrical control means for operating said dryer and including a circuit connected to said solenoid and having a switch adapted to be closed by said control means when the dryer is operating to energize said solenoid and open said valve means, a door for said dryer, and a shunt connected to said circuit and including a door operated switch adapted to be closed upon opening the door to energize said solenoid for opening said valve means when said first-mentioned switch is open.

5. A gas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner, valve means having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pilot burner at a low rate, a solenoid for opening said valve means for supplying gas to said pilot burner at a higher rate, an electrical circuit connected to said solenoid and including a switch adapted when closed to energize said solenoid to open said valve means, a timer for controlling operation of the dryer and adapted to close said switch when said dryer is operating, a door for said dryer, and a shunt connected to said circuit and including a door operated switch adapted to be closed upon opening the door to energize said solenoid for opening said valve means when said first-mentioned switch is open.

6. A gas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner, valve means having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pi-lot burner at a low rate, a solenoid for opening said valve means for supplying gas to said pilot burner at a higher rate, a first circuit connected to said solenoid and including a switch adapted when closed to energize said solenoid to open said valve means, a timer for controlling operation of the dryer, and adapted to close said switch when the dryer is operating, a motor for driving said timer, a second circuit connected to said motor and to said switch to energize said motor, a shunt connected to said first circuit around said switch, a door for said dryer, and a door operated switch connected in said second circuit and said shunt, said door operated switch being adapted when the door is closed to open said shunt and close said second circuit to energize said motor and adapted when said door is open to open said second circuit to stop said motor and to close said shunt to energize said solenoid and open said valve means.

7. A gas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner, valve means having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pilot burner at a low rate, said valve means being adapted when opened to supply gas to said pilot burner at a higher rate, a main burner adapted to be ignited by said pilot burner when operated at its higher rate, valve means adapted when opened to supply gas to said main burner, a thermostat responsive to dryer temperature for opening and closing said valve means for said main burner, control means for operating the dryer and for opening the valve means for the main burner when the thermostat permits such opening and for opening the valve means for the pilot burner when the dryer is operating whereby said pilot burner is operated at its higher rate when the thermostat and said control means open the valve means for the main burner, a door for the dryer, and means responsive to the opening of the door for opening the valve means for the pilot burner when said control means has shut ofl? operation of the dryer.

8. A gas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner, valve means having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pilot burner at a low rate, a first solenoid for opening said valve means for supplying gas to said pilot burner at a higher rate, a main burner adapted to be ignited by said pilot burner when operated at its higher rate, valve means adapted when open to supply gas to said main burner, a second solenoid for opening the valve means for the main burner, a first circuit connected to said first solenoid and including a first switch, a second circuit connected to said second solenoid and including a second switch, a thermostat in said second circuit and responsive to dryer temperature for energizing and deenergizing said second solenoid, control means for operating the dryer and for holding both of said switches closed when the dryer is operating whereby said pilot burner is operating at its higher rate when said thermostat energizes said second solenoid to open the valve means for the main burner, a door for the dryer, a shunt connected to said first circuit around said first switch, and a door operated switch in said shunt adapted when the door is open to energize said first solenoid when said control means has shut off operation of the dryer.

9. A gas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner,

valve means having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pilot burner at a low rate, said valve means being adapted when opened to supply gas to said pilot burner at a higher rate, a main burner adapted to be ignited by said pilot burner when operated at its higher rate, valve means adapted when opened to supply gas to said main burner, a safety device responsive to operation .of said pilot burner at its higher rate for opening the valve means for said main burner, control means for operating the dryer and for opening the valve means for the pilot burner whereby said pilot burner is operated at its higher rate when the dryer is operating, said control means also opening the valve means for the main burner when said safety device responds to operation of said pilot burner at its higher rate, a door for said dryer, and means responsive to the opening of the door for opening the valve means for the pilot burner when said control means has shut off operation of the dryer.

10. A gas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner, valve means having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pilot burner at a low rate a first solenoid for opening said valve means for supplying gas to said pilot burner at a higher rate, a main burner adapted to be ignited by said pilot burner when operated at its higher rate, valve means adapted when open to supply gas to said main burner, a second solenoid for opening the valve means for the main burner, a first circuit connected to said first solenoid and including a first switch, a second circuit connected to said second solenoid and including a second switch, a safety switch in said second circuit and responsive to operation of said pilot burner at its higher rate, control means for operating the dryer and for closing said first switch when the dryer starts to operate, whereby said first solenoid is energized to operate said pilot burner at its higher rate and for closing said second switch to energize said second solenoid and operate said main burner when said safety switch is closed by operation of said pilot burner at its higher rate, a door for said dryer, a shunt connected to said first circuit around said first switch, and a door operated switch in said shunt adapted when the door is open to energize said first solenoid when the control means has shut oif operation of the dryer.

ll. A gas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner,

valve means having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pilot burner at a low rate, a solenoid for opening said valve means for supplying gas to said pilot burner at a higher rate, electrical control means for operating said dryer and including a circuit for energizing said solenoid to open said valve means when the dryer is operating, a door for the dryer, and a door operated switch in said circuit and adapted to be closed upon opening the door to energize said solenoid for opening said valve means when said control means has shut off operation of the dryer and a flood lamp in said circuit in parallel with said solenoid, whereby said floor lamp is energized when the dryer is operating and is also energized wthen the door is open.

12. A gas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner, valve means connected to said pilot burner and having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pilot burner at a low rate, said pilot burner having a larger orifice for controlling the flow of gas thereto at a higher rate when said valve means is open, valve operating means for opening said valve means, control means for operating said dryer and for actuating said valve operating means to open said valve means when operation of the dryer is started, a door for the dryer, and means responsive to opening of the door for actuating said valve operating means to open said valve means when said control means has shut ofi' operation of the dryer.

13. A gas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner, valve means connected to said pilot burner and having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pilot burner at a low rate, said valve means being adapted when opened to supply gas to said pilot burner at a higher rate, means for operating the dryer, a door for the dryer, and means responsive to operation of the dryer for opening said valve means and responsive to opening of the door when operation of the dryer has stopped for opening said valve means.

14. A gas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner,

valve means connected to said pilot burner and having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pilot burner at a low rate, said valve means being adapted when opened to supply gas to said pilot burner at a higher rate, means for operating the dryer including an electrical control circuit, a door for the dryer, and means in said circuit responsive to operation of the dryer and responsive to opening of the door when operation of the dryer has stopped for opening said valve means.

15. A gas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner, valve means connected to said pilot burner and having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pilot burner at a low rate, said valve means being adapted when opened to supply gas to said pilot burner at a higher rate, means for operating the dryer including an electrical control circuit, a door for the dryer, and a pair of switches in said circuit each being actuable to efiect opening of said valve means, one of said switches being actuated on start of operation of the dryer, and the other switch being actuated by opening movement of the door.

16. A gas heated laundry dryer having a pilot burner, valve means connected to said pilot burner and having an orifice for continuously supplying gas to said pilot burner at a low rate, said valve means being adapted when opened to supply gas to said pilot burner at a higher rate, air circulating means for the dryer, a motor for driving said air circulating means, a door for the dryer, and an electrical control circuit including a solenoid for opening said valve means, switch means for simultaneously energizing said motor and said solenoid, and a switch operable by said door and adapted to be closed when the door is opened to energize said solenoid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,682,922 Nelson et a1. July 6, 1934 

